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Students urge York residents to breathe easier with free lung tests

Staff and students at York St John University
are providing free lung tests to York residents between 25 and 29
June to mark World Spirometry Day 2012 (Wednesday 27 June).

Lung disease is among the leading causes of
death across the globe, and numbers are rising mainly due to
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer and
tuberculosis.

The Harsh reality is that one person dies
every 20 minutes from COPD in England and Wales, that’s around
25,000 people per year, making it the UK’s fifth biggest killer
disease. However, many lung diseases are preventable, or
could be better controlled at an early stage if diagnosed or
detected via spirometry testing.

Paul Humphrey, lecturer in Physiotherapy at
York St John University, is a specialist in this area having worked
as a clinical specialist respiratory physiotherapist prior to his
role in higher education. Paul held a variety of senior
physiotherapy positions in the critical care setting and the
respiratory care of the chronically ill patient. Paul said:
“COPD is one of the country’s hidden killers. In Yorkshire
and the Humber it is estimated that 43% of COPD sufferers remain
undiagnosed, there are also significant numbers of
misdiagnosis.

“Our aim is to raise awareness of spirometry
testing and to encourage York residents to get checked. Early
diagnosis can have a huge impact on a patient’s life as it enables
them to manage their condition themselves and get the treatment
they need, this can include appropriate medication, exercise and
physiotherapy to limit the course of the lung disease and
breathlessness and improve quality of life and exercise
capacity.”

Physiotherapy students from York St John
University will be running the event with lecturer Paul
Humphrey. If the test results raise concern, participants
will be given a letter to take to their doctor. YSJActive, the
University’s sport, exercise and wellbeing department will also be
available to offer free lifestyle advice. Paul adds: “We want
to encourage as many people as we can to maintain an active and
healthy lifestyle; it’s something the students are very passionate
about. Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor
for global mortality. People with lung problems often fear that
exercise will make breathlessness worse, but regular physical
exercise is proven to be the best treatment.”

Everyone is welcome to drop in for a free
spirometry test, especially those who are worried about their lung
health or have had difficulty with breathlessness, coughing or
sputum production. Free spirometry tests will take place at
York St John University 10am – 4pm on